Sluggish start cost Spurs in race for top four

Failure to qualify for the Champions League can be attributed to their sluggish start to the season, and the nightmare week in March when they were beaten by Liverpool and at home by Fulham, either side of a draining 4-1 defeat after extra-time at Inter Milan in the Europa League.

While there was no sudden decline similar to the one in the spring of the 2011-12 campaign, Spurs should not have let a seven-point lead over Arsenal in March slip from their grasp. Yet, despite the fifth-placed finish, there are plenty of reasons for optimism. Gareth Bale is very likely to stay and the team should grow next year.

Andre Villas-Boas: 7 out of 10 Encouraging first season for AVB, who did well to cope with absence of key men. Was told to deliver a top-four finish but did not.

Best player: Gareth Bale

Best signing: Jan Vertonghen (£9.6m from Ajax, above)

Who/what they need in the summer

A reliable goalscorer (how long have we been saying that?), a left-back and greater depth in central midfield. Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke is a strong target in attack, while Villas-Boas remains keen on his former FC Porto pupil, the versatile Alvaro Pereira. Portugal international Joao Moutinho is a long-term favourite of AVB but the cost of the transfer is prohibitive.